Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-02-19

Experience the President saws has
demonstrated that all the estimates con.
corning the probable future cost of n non
,is nov are uncertain and unreliable and
always lall below actual religion, and in
support OF ms assertion, says: "The chair
man VI the House Committee on Pensions
oHculates That the number of pensioners
unuer lhls bill would be 81, 1O5 and the in.
creased cost A,167,l3O this is upon the
'hcory that only those who are entirely nm.
"uie 10 work wonld be its beneficiaries.
''u0u Was lhe principle Of the Revolutionary
pension law of 1878, much more clearly
stated, 1t seems to me, than in this hill
men the law Of 1878 was upon ITS MASSAGE
III congress the number of pensioners to be
pehehted thereby was thought to be 374,
put 'he number Of applicants under the act
was @-,.9L and the number of pensions
ACTUALLY allowed were 20,4S5, costing. it is
reported, Tor the first years, ,S47, 800, instead
OF *o,oo, the estimated expense for that
period
"A law was passed in 1853 for the benefit
ol the surviving widows of Revolutionary
soldiers who were married after January /.
lSoV IL was estimated that they numbered
3o at tho time of tho passage of tho act
Dut the number Of pensions allowed was
3,A2 andthe amount paid for such pensions
ourihg the hrst year of the operation Of the
act was $4,000, instead OF $4,000 as had
been estimated
Il nave made no search for other illustra-
tons" the President adds, "and the above
Deing at hand are given as tending to show
that estimates cannot be relied upon in such
cases.
Continuing with his objections to the bill,
the President says "If none should be
pensloned under this bill except those ut
terly unable to work, am satisfied that the
cost stated in the estimate referred to
would be many times multiplied, and with
constant increase from year to year, and
II those partially unable to earn their sup
port should be admitted to the privileges of
this bill, the probable increase of expense
would be almost appalling think it NAV
be said that at the close of the war Of the
Rebellion every Northern State and great
majority of Northern counties and cities,
were burdencd with taxation on
account of the large bounty paid our sol
still constitutes largcitem in the accounts
of the tax gatherer against the people
Federal taxation no less borne by the peo-
pie than that directly levied upon their
property is still maintained at the rate
made necessary by the exegencies of war
If this bill should become law with its
tremendous addition to our pension obliga-
tions, am thoroughly convinced thatfu
er efforts to reduce the Federal revenue and
restore some part of it TO our people will,
and perhaps should, be seriously question
ed. 1t has conveniently been a cause of
pride and congratulation to the American
citizens that this country is not put to q
charge of maintaining large standing
army in time Of peace. Yet we are now
living under war tax which has been
tolerated in peaceful time for to meet the
obligations incurred in war. But for years
past, in all parts of the country, the demand
for the reduction of the burdens Of taxation
upon our labor and production has increased
in volume and urgency.
81 am not willing to approve measure
presenting the objections to which this bill
is subject, and which moreover will have
the effect of disappointing the expectations
of the people and their desire and hope for
relief from war taxation in time Of peace"
The President closes his message by say
ing: "The evil threatened by this bill is, in
my opinion, such that charged with great
responsibility, in behalf of the people, can
not do otherwise than to bring to the con
sideration of this measure my best efforts
of thought and judgment and perform my
constitutional duty in relation thereto, re.
gardlcss of all consequences, except such
as appear to be related to the best and high
est interests of the country"